Operation Torch - The Western Task Force

I have a few Operation Torch posts already on the blog, but I wanted to provide a bit of an update as to where the project stands, including a small scenario book that I will be working on soon, providing a mix of historical and hypothetical encounters that feature the United States Navy's air operations which, as part of the Western Task Force, mostly dominated the skies over Morocco. 

Thus far I have ideas for seven scenarios which include an interesting mix of American and Vichy French aircraft (the following chart includes an eighth scenario from the Check Your 6! rulebook):

I have aircraft painted for two scenarios (French Surprise and Torched), however I might replace some or all of what I have with the exceptional Flight Deck Decals range. I do have the Model 75As already from Flight Deck - I just need to ship them to Miscellaneous Miniatures for painting as doing three tone camo scheme and Vichy stripes might be beyond my skill, or at least patience, level. 

Also, something I want to try to do is offer a mini-campaign aspect for the scenario book. Years ago when I used to game the Command Decision series from GDW, one of the concepts they offered in their Over the Top World War One rules was a "bathtub" campaign - taking units and scaling them down into playable units on the tabletop while also allowing campaign movement using a hex map. I plan on doing something like this for Operation Torch - taking the numbers of available aircraft and scaling that down to 10%. This would yield the following available aircraft for the mini-campaign:

I would have to determine how to use a force pool to generate scenarios, or really I would need a scenario generator and then a way to track the force pool due to shoot downs, damage, etc. Since the campaign was so short (just a few days), any plane that is shot down would not be replaced, and an aircrew survival roll could be made to determine if the pilot is able to return to the force pool. Damaged planes might return after a full day of inaction. There are several factors that need to be accounted for.

Rules for the F-86F-2 Sabre

While the scenarios I am creating include the following rules for using the F-86F-2 Sabre as part of Project GunVal, I thought having the rules included as a blog post might be useful. As of this date, I have four Project GunVal scenarios available on the Downloads page, with maybe two or three more to work up. After that I hope to create a Project GunVal scenario mini-book and offering it as a pdf download. In the meantime, here are the rules and stats for the F-86F-2 Sabre.

• F-86F-2 stats: B7 + 2 Hx, 93/75, R2/d6, @FF: 4xMC.
• Due to the high muzzle velocity of the 20mm M39 (T-160) cannons on the F-86F-2, use a twelve-sided dice (d12) for each firing gun.
• The T-160 cannon had a high rate of fire, therefore will check for ammunition depletion at one aircrew level lower.
• The T-160 cannon had an issue with dispersion at longer distances. Firing at ranges greater than six hexes is suffers a -1 die roll modifier.
• Conversely, the APG-30 radar provided greater accuracy at longer ranges. Add a +1 modifier to all F-86F types when firing at four hexes or greater within the target's tail arc.
• Compressor Stall – When the cannons on the F-86F-2 were fired, exhaust from the guns created a cloud of gas directly in front of the nose intake which could cause engine flame out. When an F-86F-2 fires its cannon an aircrew check is required, with a -2 modifier for CABs HIGH and above and -1 for CABs MEDIUM to HIGH BOTTOM. A failed check results in an immediate reduction of one speed at the end of the phase, and a loss of one speed on each subsequent turn, plotting only forward turn codes, until the engine has been restarted. Once restarted, speed is immediately set to 2.

Here is a silent video showing some of the effects of the 20mm cannon on the Sabre.

Another Scenario

Admittedly, my newest scenario has a lot in common with the "Protecting Them All" scenario in the Battles Above 1 scenario book. To be honest I used it as the basis, but, upon reviewing various historical sources, I believe some of the details of the original scenario were missing or in need of updating. Then I took my interpretation to a different level by checking the facts using AI and have created a scenario that has more of a grounding in the history of the engagement that took place on July 16, 1944 between the fighter group later known (well after World War II) as the Tuskegee Airmen and Mussolini's Aeronautica Nazionale Repubblicana, although it is still unconfirmed the number of Italian fighters that were present.

On the Downloads page you will now find "Duel With the Veltro," a game ideal for four or five players. Due to damage a lone B-24, after bombing Weiner Neustadt, is making its way home, stalked by at least a pair of Macchi C.205Vs. Arriving just in time is a flight of P-51Cs from the 302nd Fighter Squadron.